Environmental Markup Language (EML): A Material and Energy Balancing XML Schema Definition

Abstract

For a systematic evaluation of an organizations’ environmental performance methods for data pooling are needed so that data about services, or the production of goods can be collected and the evaluation of the associated environment is possible. This information gain is the base for improvements of the environmental performance and supports the top management in its strategic planning. One useful method can be seen in a material and energy balancing which enables organizations to operationalize environmental protection. Due to the often heterogeneous information and communication technologies (ICT) systems in organizations a general practical exchange format for the representation and processing of material and energy information is required. Therefore this publication describes the development of an XML schema definition for material and energy balancing. The development of this XML schema definition is based on the DIN EN ISO 14040:2006 standard according to Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and includes the linkage between ecologic and economic information.